Introduction

Clean and safe water and sanitation are critical determinants of good health and well-being. A significant proportion of the world, however, lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services at home and in institutional settings such as health care facilities. There is an urgent need to develop capacity for understanding the linkages between poor water quality and adverse health, including servicing and knowledge gaps. This Water Learning Centre course focuses on enhancing water and health outcomes by opportunistically targeting linkages and addressing critical gaps affecting water-related stressors of good physical, mental and social health and well-being. This course provides an overview of technical evidence and guidance for integrating water and health programming when addressing infectious diseases and risks, health risks from chemicals in drinking water and impacts on well-being. It also considers how pressures such as climate change and use of antibiotics compounds water and health delivery issues.

The Water and Health WLC consists of three modules:

• Module 1: Introduction to Water and Health, reflecting especially on whether relevant Sustainable Development Goals are on- or off-track for 2030
• Module 2: Water and Health Linkages and Gaps: WASH-related diseases and risks
• Module 3: Enhancing Water and Health Actions: Targeting linkages and gaps.

The Water and Health WLC Learning Objectives:

• Identify the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and health, particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• Understand critical WASH and Health linkages and gaps to addressing infectious diseases, chemical contamination, and well-being risks.
• Recognise how emerging pressures such as climate change, urbanization, and human behaviour can significantly affect public health interventions.
• Integrate cross-cutting interdisciplinary approaches and partnerships for greater impact.

Target Audience:

This interdisciplinary introductory course has been developed for development professionals and early career professionals interested in integrating water and health programming.